Productivity is key to improving society

The annual Kids Count survey was released this week and for those unfamiliar, this is perhaps the most comprehensive survey of the American family. The survey measures drop-out rates, teen pregnancies, poverty and a wide array of health issues. It's not necessarily exciting reading but it provides ample food for thought.

In a nutshell, the survey says we are showing signs of improvement in virtually all statistics, including infant mortality, low birth weight babies, etc. That should all be accepted as good news. But some areas of the study show we remain virtually unchanged - "treading water" - and the experts think we may remain at these levels for the foreseeable future.

One statistic - above all others - gave me great concern. The survey found that one-third of America's children live in homes where none of the parents have full-time, year-round jobs. That marks an increase since the last survey.

Now think about that for a moment and apply that statistic to our community. If one-third of children live in homes where no one works full-time, those children are, first and foremost, destined to live in poverty. Additional statistics will tell you their health issues will be greater and their education success will be lower. In short, one-third of the children in this nation start off with two strikes against them.

So how do we solve this massive social problem? Great question but with few answers.

It's a fact that there are jobs available in this country, this state and this community. So what other issues are involved that would keep a person from obtaining and retaining a full-time job? I suspect that question will always plague society.

Progress can be made at the social level only when all members of society are productive. Granted, some will achieve more than others. Nothing will change that dynamic. But until the day arrives when all those who can work do work, we will always be a society of haves and have nots. I see no other way around it. We can adopt new government programs to level the playing field but until people become productive and have a stake in society, we'll continue to swim upstream.